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Month: September 2013

Here at Student Health Services things have been a bit batty. We have had quite a few appointments related to bat exposures. Why would someone schedule a doctor’s appointment if they have been exposed to a bat? Bats can be carriers of rabies. In fact, the CDC recommends that all persons with a bite, scratch, or mucous membrane exposure to a bat undergo rabies post exposure prophylaxis.

Mucous membranes line the cavities that are exposed to the external environment and to internal organs. Think nose, lips, eyelids, ears, etc. If a bat were to land on you and touch your ear, for example, you might have a mucous membrane exposure.

If you woke up because a bat landed on you while you were sleeping of if you awakened and found a bat in your room, you have potentially been exposed. The small teeth of a bat can make a bite difficult to find, so it’s better to be safe in these situations and assume exposure.

Of course, the best thing to do if you have been exposed to a bat is to safely capture the bat in question and have it submitted for rabies testing. You can contact the Ohio State Veterinary hospital for more information. If you are unable to capture the bat, then thoroughly wash the affected area with soap and water and schedule an appointment at Student Health Services or with your primary care physician. They can then determine if rabies post exposure prophylaxis is needed.

Rabies post exposure prophylaxis involves four doses of rabies vaccine given on the day of the exposure and then again on days 3, 7, and 14. The purpose is to prevent you from contracting rabies which is a very nasty and deadly virus.

When most people think of condoms they think of male condoms, but did you know that there also female condoms? A female condom is a pouch that is inserted into the vagina to prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. How does it compare to the male condom?

Pregnancy Prevention

Female condom: 75% effective

Male condom: 85% effective

Protection Against Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Female condom: some protection

o Male condom: better protection

Availability

Both can be purchased at a drug store without a prescription

Cost

Female condom: $1.50 – $4 each

Male condom: $0.50 – $1.50 each

Although the male condom does appear to outweigh the female condom when it comes to prevention, protection and cost, the female condom is still an option and options are good.

****Using the female and male condom at the same time is not recommended.

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